Chapter Text
Lord Raiden’s Temple is a place of refuge and, to Liu Kang, the second safest place in existence. So when the air changes suddenly, grows colder around him, he goes on alert. Someone that does not belong here is in this sacred space, filling the air with an oppressive energy. Liu Kang spins around and hops off of the rock he’d been meditating on just in time to see the intruder emerge. The sunlight at his back makes his armor that much darker, makes his silhouette more formidable.
Liu Kang steadies himself. He has trained for moments like this. He trusts in his abilities, and so does Lord Raiden. Gathering himself, Liu Kang calls on his fire and unleashes it – and feels his heart drop to his feet when the intruder deflects it with ice.
There is no doubt in his mind that this being is from Outworld, the very one that incapacitated Jax Briggs so severely.
Liu Kang hits the floor hard and doesn’t get a chance to get his feet back under him. The intruder is quick and ruthless, holding nothing back in his attacks. It’s all Liu Kang can do to keep up a defense, unable to conjure his fire under such quick strikes. Instead, he fights to break the hold around his throat. His breath catches as ice crawls across his skin, sticking to his lashes, making it difficult to open his eye. It burns his skin the way fire would, sharp and hot and painful. Liu Kang grunts, slams the side of his hand down on the intruder’s wrist, but it does nothing to break his grip.
The intruder stares at Liu Kang, his eyes as cold and empty as the ice he forms in his open hand. It creeps toward Liu Kang’s face, toward the eye still open, slow and intent, and he knows that if he doesn’t stop it now, the end result will be irreversible.
He has never faced an opponent with an ability the exact opposite of his. He has never felt ice to be such a threat to his life before this moment.
Wind rushes past Liu Kang’s ear. The sharp sound of something metal flying through the air is more of a relief than Liu Kang could express right now, even as he drops to the ground.
“Shi xiong,” Liu Kang gasps in his native language as he climbs to his feet. He scrubs the frost from his eye, blinking furiously to orient his vision, and feels something in him settle under the hand that lands on his shoulder. “Welcome back.”
Kung Lao stands at his side. He doesn’t speak, but Liu Kang doesn’t need him to. The weight of his touch says more than words could right now. Some part of Liu Kang, the soft, naïve, foolish part of him that he tries to keep buried, whispers that it’s proof of their unshakable bond; that Kung Lao knew, even across the world, that he was needed and returned to Liu Kang’s side.
They turn back to back as the enemies advances on them, now led by Shang Tsung, a formidable sorcerer from whose reputation has been well earned. The threat that faces them is legitimate, but Liu Kang does not feel as afraid as he did minutes ago. It is hard to feel cornered and alone with Kung Lao at his side, standing tall, ready to take on whatever comes their way with Liu Kang.
But Lord Raiden intervenes before the sorcerer and his minions can attack. Liu Kang remains at Kung Lao’s side. He relaxes only when the enemies have retreated, thwarted by Lord Raiden’s protective barrier, and allows himself a moment to watch Kung Lao as he introduces himself to the others.
The air around Kung Lao is imperious. The other champions have mixed reactions to his presence, but Liu Kang knows that what they perceive as arrogance is well established confidence. Kung Lao has trained his entire life to be worthy of the mark he wears and of his blood line, and he’s gone above and beyond earning the right to be Earthrealm’s greatest champion.
A familiar ache squeezes in Liu Kang’s chest. He’s missed Kung Lao so much it hurts, but he can’t act on it now. They have much work to do, and he tells the others as much, leading them into the tunnel heading for the training pit.
“Shi di.”
Liu Kang stops short of the entrance to the training pit. He turns his gaze to Kung Lao, who is bullying his way through the small group surrounding Liu Kang. There are three sets of eyes watching them, curious, but Kung Lao only has eyes for Liu Kang.
A flush creeps its way across Liu Kang’s cheeks, but he stays put as Kung Lao stops before him. “Seems you found the others before I did,” Kung Lao says, continuing in Mandarin. A private conversation among strangers. “And trouble, too. I simply can’t leave you on your own, can I, shi di?”
Resisting a smile is impossible, so Liu Kang doesn’t try, though he does make an effort to keep it from taking over his face. “You didn’t miss the fight, so there’s nothing to scold me for, shi xiong.”
“Mm. I can’t say that I agree with that.” Kung Lao reaches up, lets his fingertips glide over Liu Kang’s brow. His touch is almost hot against the patch of flesh that had been hit with ice. It’s sensitive and raw, but far from the worst wound Liu Kang has ever been given, easy enough to brush aside. This close, the concern in Kung Lao’s eyes is visible. “Are you well? Can you see?”
Liu Kang is painfully aware of the others watching them, but Kung Lao’s bulk and the wide brim of his hat hide anything of importance. Displays of affection in public aren’t something they do; their duties are to come first, their responsibilities to Lord Raiden and to Earthrealm meant to be put before themselves.
And yet, in moments of true concern and fear, their hearts have always come before their souls.
Liu Kang swallows down the affection threatening to choke him. He tilts his head into Kung Lao’s touch, allows himself a moment to nuzzle into the calloused shape of his palm. “I am well, shi xiong,” he assures, voice soft. “You made sure of that.”
Behind them, Kano groans. “Oi, what is the hold up?” he demands. “C’mon, I wanna get this shit over with, I wanna find out if I got fireballs like the short one there.”
Kung Lao’s face falls flat. He exhales a quiet breath through his nose and presses his thumb to Liu Kang’s cheek before dropping his hand. “I see we have a test of patience ahead of us,” he mutters.
This time, Liu Kang grins. “Come, shi xiong. We do not have time to spare.”
----
Liu Kang cannot deny that this mission so far has been a disaster.
He exhales loudly as he follows Kung Lao to the bathing pools, letting his head hang. Now that he doesn’t need to keep his composure before the others, Liu Kang is becoming aware of the aches that follow a rigorous day of training. A nice soak in the springs would ease his muscles, and with the knowledge not yet shared with the others, Liu Kang and Kung Lao can enjoy their privacy without worrying about interruptions from anyone else for a bit longer still.
When the others had first arrived, his hope was strong enough to overshadow his logic. Liu Kang and Kung Lao both have been sent around the world many times in the last few years in search of others with the mark, reinforcements for the future tournament looming over them.
But instead of battle ready champions, they have an arrogant thief, an aged fighter with no confidence in his abilities, a man who lost his arms in a brutal way, and a seasoned soldier with no mark to speak of.
What a cruel twist of fate.
Before him, Kung Lao removes his hat. He sets it on a shelf above the water, then begins to remove his arm and shoulder braces, rolling his neck, his shoulders, his wrists with a heavy sigh. All four clatter to the ground unceremoniously.
Liu Kang watches with a smile. Kung Lao has always been the messier of the two. Born with his mark and a legacy to carry on his shoulders, he’s known all of his life who he is and what he’s destined for, has taken advantage of little moments to slack off in exchange for bearing the burden and the pressure put upon him to live up to his ancestor's name.
If asked, Liu Kang would admit that he thinks Kung Lao can afford to be a little lazy here and there. He’s been diligent in his training since the day they met; it shouldn’t matter if he doesn’t pick his belongings off of the floor when he managed to master his arcana so young and went on to win every battle he’s been in since.
Liu Kang doesn’t envy him, though. He’s never had a shred of jealousy in him, well aware of his own station in life. He knows how hard Kung Lao pushes himself, and he’s only ever been in awe of his strength. It has been a blessing Liu Kang never expected to be allowed to rise up as Kung Lao’s equal with his own arcana, given a chance to remain at his side without the barrier of fate separating them.
Liu Kang reaches up to set his mala beads beside Kung Lao’s hat. He unties his sash, lets his top fall open as he watches Kung Lao undress. He hasn’t seen Kung Lao in weeks thanks to his quest for another champion, and he wasn’t expecting their reunion to involve an attack from the enemy or untrained champions in immediate need of their guidance. Both have impeded what normally would have been a passionate return to one another's arms, forcing them to keep themselves in check.
Now, in the shadows of the temple, deep underground and away from prying eyes, Liu Kang is free to touch Kung Lao in all the ways he’s been longing to when alone, finally able to soothe the ache that’s been living between his ribs all those days.
Liu Kang’s hands move before he’s really aware of them doing so. He steps into Kung Lao’s space, helps him remove the rest of this clothing. Kung Lao smiles down at him and reaches out to do the same. Once they’re both naked, Kung Lao sweeps their clothing away in a pile to be dealt with later. He ignores the way Liu Kang clicks his tongue in disapproval, instead pulling him close, hands on Liu Kang’s hips as they walk down the steps and into the water.
It is a balm on Liu Kang’s heart, the way Kung Lao’s hands hold onto him, keeping him close as they wade into the middle of the pool. To be reminded that he was not the only one lonely and adrift while apart. Liu Kang can’t stop the sigh that leaves him, can’t stop his hand from sliding up Kung Lao’s chest to rest over his heart. Feeling it beat into his palm chases away all the worries that had plagued him in his lover’s absence. He’s here now, in one piece and safe.
Kung Lao groans, long and loud and dramatic, as he lets go of Liu Kang to fall back into the water. It’s cold to the touch, but after hours in the hot sand under the even hotter desert sun, Liu Kang doesn’t have to ask to know that the chilled temperature is refreshing.
Already Liu Kang knows what will be coming next. Once they’re both clean, he’ll take Kung Lao to a different pool and heat the water up to relax the knots and ease the tension in their muscles. But for now, it is enough to wash away the grime accumulated from the day.
They take their time doing so. Kung Lao washes Liu Kang’s hair as he tells him of his travels. Unable to find the woman supposed to bear the mark of champion, he only found her tombstone; she died in a car accident, something both unpredictable yet telling.
They both know enough of the Elder Gods’ methods to know that, whoever she was, she wasn’t meant to join their ranks. They know that they were meant to connect with the three that sought out Lord Raiden’s temple, even if one of them did not bear a mark of her own.
Once the sand and soot have been cleaned from Liu Kang’s hands, when the sweat and grime have been washed from their skin, Liu Kang and Kung Lao move to a different pool, one not tainted by their filth. This one is smaller, and here, Liu Kang uses his arcana to heat the water. He watches with a smile as Kung Lao all but melts into it. Steam begins to envelope them, a gentle cloud rising from the pool as the heat in the water starts to undo the pain accumulated from today’s efforts. Liu Kang stares into the water as the light from his hands fade. He isn’t seeing the water itself, but rather the moments he lived through today.
Bringing the new champions to where they need to be, then failing to keep the enemy at bay, forcing Lord Raiden to intervene. Reuniting with Kung Lao, then realizing just how inexperienced the others are. A tidal wave of emotions he was forced to ignore in order to maintain his focus, but now, in the sanctity of the bathing pools, Liu Kang lets it all flood through his system, unable to hold them back any longer.
“Shi di,” Kung Lao murmurs. His voice, though still soft, echoes off the rock surrounding them. “You look far too troubled for such a luxurious experience you’ve created for us. What is on your mind, hm?”
Liu Kang looks up. Kung Lao looms over him, and for a moment, Liu Kang is reminded of when they used to be the same height, when he didn’t have to tilt his head to meet Kung Lao’s eyes. And then the growth spurt had hit him suddenly, putting Kung Lao several inches over Liu Kang.
It hadn’t been intimidating. By the time their bodies had begun to change, one certainty Liu Kang had was that Kung Lao would never hurt him. The difference in height, the muscle gain beginning to show on Kung Lao’s frame, were nothing to be intimidated by for Liu Kang.
Instead, it had brought about something he didn’t recognize right away – attraction. Many nights he had spent praying, repenting for the way he coveted his only friend, someone he would never be worthy for. If he could discipline himself, then he would never have to burden Kung Lao with his feelings and he would never have to risk being sent away from the person he loved the most.
Discovering Kung Lao felt the same way had been nothing short of a miracle. They had been inseparable before, and now they belonged to one another in every way possible, their bond only strengthened with intimacy now in the mix.
Exhaling, Liu Kang reaches out. He lets his hand settle over Kung Lao’s heart once more, lets the steady beat of it against his palm calm him down a little bit more. But he doesn’t need to speak. Kung Lao knows him too well.
“You are worried about the state our fellow champions are in,” Kung Lao says. His hand comes up to cover Liu Kang’s.
Liu Kang lets shoulders drop. He nods once. “I feel so naïve for being as hopeful as I was,” he confesses. “You and I have worked so hard to be as good as we are, and I see the potential, but… I was not expecting unlocking that potential to be our task as well as finding them.” He squeezes his eyes shut, shakes his head. “Training them until they are ready is burdensome enough, but we do not know when Shang Tsung will attack again. The only thing I am sure of is that he will.”
If he were with anyone else, Liu Kang would never let his worries show so clearly. He has worked so hard to create the façade of calm confidence that he presents to the world; his emotions are his alone, something he doesn’t want to telegraph after being so vulnerable as a child.
But Kung Lao isn’t just anyone, and Liu Kang trusts him above anyone else, knows that he will never judge him for any feeling Liu Kang experiences.
Kung Lao clicks his teeth. “I will be honest, shi di,” he says, running his hands along Liu Kang’s arms, “I was not expecting the new champions to be so incompetent, either. Sonya would be leagues above the men if she had a mark, and I believe Jax could either be right behind her or her equal in skill, but I am afraid that the adjustment needed for his new arms will mean he’s not capable of fighting when the tournament comes.”
Gently, Kung Lao slides his hand along Liu Kang’s neck. He’s careful as he threads his fingers through Liu Kang’s hair, careful as he cups the back of Liu Kang’s head in his warm, wet, steady hand. His other hand finds Liu Kang’s hip beneath the water to pull him closer. “But,” Kung Lao murmurs, “We need not fret over it this very moment. You and I have been apart for far too long now, and I have no desire to think of anyone else when you are finally back in my arms. I hope you feel the same, a-Kang, else I will be most disappointed that you would rather think of anyone else but me.”
Liu Kang immediately melts into his touch, eyes fluttering shut as he allows himself to relax. “You have occupied my every thought since your departure,” he readily admits. “Even after bringing the others to Lord Raiden, all I could think about was that finding them meant you would finally be returning to me.”
The softness in Kung Lao’s eyes is something Liu Kang knows that no one else has seen, and each glimpse of it makes him greedy for more. He never had anything to himself before Kung Lao; his love is the one thing Liu Kang has ever coveted, the one thing he wished desperately to have to himself.
“I missed you fiercely,” Kung Lao murmurs as he bends his head, leaning down to kiss Liu Kang.
Liu Kang meets Kung Lao eagerly, presses into his embrace to close the scant distance between them. Kung Lao slides his arm around Liu Kang’s waist, fingers pressing more firmly into his hip. His other hand slides down to the center of his back to hold him close, and this, Liu Kang thinks, is the safest place he’s ever been.
For so long, he was sure the touch of another would repulse him. His earliest memories are violent, his innocence torn from him again and again, the revulsion so imprinted on him that he shied away from the monks when he had first arrived at Wu Shi Academy. He couldn’t bear for them to offer shelter and then see how ruined he was, toss him out onto the streets to die in the gutter - or worse. But that judgment has never come. Instead, he had been given a purpose - Kung Lao.
Every first with Kung Lao had been initiated on Liu Kang’s terms. He had shown a remarkable patience that he struggled to give to any other endeavor, letting Liu Kang take his hand first, letting Liu Kang offer the first hug and then the first kiss. It had built a trust between them that eventually lead them down a path that involved no more separation, every bit of them fully entwined now.
Liu Kang kisses Kung Lao again, licks into his mouth to taste him. He swallows down the noise Kung Lao makes, takes his time tasting the last dredges of the tea he had with his dinner. The fire beginning to simmer in his blood has nothing to do with his arcana and everything to do with the man sliding both hands down his back, gripping his back side tight enough to make Liu Kang gasp into his mouth.
He can feel Kung Lao’s cock hardening against his hip, can feel his own responding in kind. Liu Kang reaches between them and wraps his hand around Kung Lao’s cock. He takes advantage of Kung Lao’s head falling back with a gasp to kiss down his neck, licking the water off of the long line of it, lingering on his pulse point to feel his heart beat against his lips.
“Beloved,” Kung Lao moans, soft and sweet. He squeezes at Liu Kang’s cheeks, pulls them apart to slide his fingertips between them. The first teasing brush against his hole makes Liu Kang inhale, makes his cock twitch with renewed need. “How I missed the sweet sounds you make when I have my hands on you.”
It’s gratifying, Liu Kang must admit, to be reminded every time that Kung Lao wants him just as badly as he is wanted. His cock is hard and hot against Liu Kang’s stomach, his hips moving in lazy, aborted grinds. Movement just for the sake of pleasure, his body acting on pure instinct, as though they were apart for years and years and not mere weeks.
“Ah, a-Lao, I want you inside me, please.” Liu Kang cants his hips forward, slides a leg around Kung Lao’s thigh to open himself further to him. He ghosts his lips along Kung Lao’s shoulder, lingering long enough to leave a bruise where he knows no one else will find it once he is dressed again. It’s a mark for them and them alone.
Kung Lao groans, low and pained, and Liu Kang knows that whatever protest he is about to offer will crumble easily enough. “We don’t have anything with us to help, a-Kang.”
“We have the water, and if that is not enough…” Liu Kang takes Kung Lao’s hand, brings it close to his face. He watches his lover’s eyes darken as he licks at the sensitive pad of his index finger, his meaning clear, but he continues on, “My mouth is plenty wet for your fingers.”
He knows he’s won by the way Kung Lao inhales, the air strangled in his lungs. Liu Kang bites down on Kung Lao’s fingertip, lets his teeth drag along the tender skin. “You were away from me for so long, my heart, and we did not have the chance to join before you left. Do not makes me wait any longer.”
“Gods above, who taught you to be so brazen?” Kung Lao laughs, crowds Liu Kang back against the rock wall behind them. “Fine, but only because I feel as though I will perish on the spot if I cannot be inside of you.”
Kung Lao does not waste any time in stretching Liu Kang open. He is as careful as ever, pressing Liu Kang close so that he can whisper praises as he adds one finger, then another, then a third, steadily loosening his shi di for him.
Liu Kang, for his part, can only cling to Kung Lao as his long, skilled fingers work him open. It burns at first; they both know the oils in their room would have made the task easier, but they both know they’re too impatient to walk all the way there for it. Still, Liu Kang calls upon his discipline to keep his body relaxed. He craves the words kissed into his shoulder almost as much as he craves Kung Lao’s touch; it both soothes and thrills something deep inside of him to hear Kung Lao tell him how good he is, how well he takes him, how his body was made just for him.
And every time, as the heat begins to simmer in his blood and wipe away his rational thought, Liu Kang allows himself to think that it’s true, that he was made just for Kung Lao to use and to love.
“I’m ready, beloved,” Liu Kang says, breathless, clenching around Kung Lao’s fingers. “Give it to me, please.”
Kung Lao kisses Liu Kang’s cheek, then his jaw as he withdraws his fingers. “Tell me if it hurts,” he warns as he takes his cock in hand, guiding himself to Liu Kang’s entrance. The head presses against the opening before pushing in, inch by inch until their hips are flush.
Liu Kang glances down, tries for a moment to watch through the water as Kung Lao fills him. His cock is thick, filling Liu Kang perfectly – like a missing piece finally coming home. Liu Kang grips Kung Lao’s shoulders and sighs as his body adjusts. He can feel the tension in Kung Lao’s shoulders as he holds himself still, letting Liu Kang adjust. It makes his heart swell, affection for his shi xiong fresh and blooming between his ribs.
“Go ahead,” Liu Kang breathes. He skims his nose along Kung Lao’s cheek, bites down on the sharp cut of his jaw. “Let me feel you, a-Lao.”
Kung Lao doesn’t need to be told twice. He tilts his head and kisses Liu Kang as he rocks his hips, sighing into his mouth as he does. Liu Kang whimpers, hands tightening around Kung Lao’s shoulders. Even after taking several fingers, taking Kung Lao’s cock is just shy of painful. Liu Kang welcomes it, though; the burn mingling with the pleasure makes the moment real, separates it from the fantasies that have sustained him during his lover’s absence.
“Is this what you wanted?” Kung Lao slides his hand along Liu Kang’s thigh under the water, hitching his knee higher. It spreads Liu Kang’s legs further open, allows Kung Lao to slide deeper witch each thrust, which are picking up in pace. “Is this what you thought about while I was away? I certainly did, the idea of burying myself in you again was all that sustained me some nights.”
Liu Kang bites his lip and nods, unable to find his voice for several heartbeats. A hot flush creeps its away across his skin, not unlike the fire that lives inside of him, but his arcana is not the source. The reason for the burning in his blood is the man gripping him with such firm, calloused hands, the one with a matching flush staining his beautifully brown cheeks, staring at him as though he is the only thing in this world that matters.
He isn’t, Liu Kang knows this. Their world is not the only one in existence, and their entire lives have been dedicated to defending it from those outside threats. But here in Kung Lao’s arms, joined in the most intimate way possible, it is easy to feel like none of that matters. It is easy to let go of it all and simply be Liu Kang and Kung Lao, tied at the heart, joined at the body, bound at the soul, two men in love and in need.
“I wanted for you every moment you were gone,” Liu Kang says, breathless and simple and laid bare. He sees the way it affects Kung Lao, feels it as pumps into him faster still, forcing a helpless moan from Liu Kang’s lips. “I, ah, I needed you, a-Lao, I always do.” He bites his lip and clenches around Kung Lao’s cock, sliding a hand into his thick, damp hair to pull him into a messy kiss. “As if I could ever think of anything but you, my beloved.”
Kung Lao exhales harshly, chest heaving with each labored breath he takes. “a-Kang, I’m close,” he pants. His fingers tighten around Liu Kang’s knee, his cock pistoning in and out of him, the water sloshing about their bodies.
There is no shame to be had in reaching this point so soon; after so long apart, the sheer need is overtaking them both. There will be time to explore lazy and slow later, in the comfort of their bed, no one around to need them as champions just yet. Right now, all that matters is the pleasure spiking through them, mirrored in their clinging grips and labored breaths.
“Yes, yes,” Liu Kang pleads. He clenches around Kung Lao’s cock again, just to watch the way his brows furrow as if in the sweetest pain imaginable. Liu Kang takes Kung Lao’s hand and brings it to his cock, desperate to feel his touch everywhere, whines at the firm grip it’s given. “Together, a-Lao, please.”
Kung Lao is ruthless as he strokes Liu Kang’s cock, his pace matching the quick snap of his hips. The heat coiled low in Liu Kang’s gut finally snaps, floods his blood stream as he comes. He gasps, Kung Lao’s name falling from his lips, a soft cry following when Kung Lao follows seconds later, filling him with the hot, wet splash of his release, marking him from the inside.
It satiates something deep inside of Liu Kang, makes him cling tighter to Kung Lao’s shoulders, fingers trembling in his hair. To be loved so thoroughly is not something he ever hoped to experience, and yet, when he awakes tomorrow, he will carry the physical proof of it with him through his day.
Several minutes of silence lapse between them, the only sound to be heard their heavy breathing. Slowly, Kung Lao slips free, and Liu Kang moans quiet and pitiful, already mourning the loss. Kung Lao coos, feathers kisses along Liu Kang’s red cheeks. His hands are gentle as he draws him into his embrace; his heart is being just as fast as Liu Kang’s as they come down from their high, a song known only to them.
“I love you so,” Kung Lao whispers. He is gentle as he helps Liu Kang clean himself again, a cursory wash down this time.
For a moment, Liu Kang can only watch Kung Lao’s hands, amazed once again to be so blessed with this, with someone that wants to touch him simply to feel his skin, to show that he cares. “And I love you,” he returns. He lets Kung Lao clean him, then returns the favor, ensuring they’re both acceptable before allowing Kung Lao to lead him from the water.
The halls are quiet as they return to their room, clothes clinging to their still wet bodies. Once behind the shut door, they undress each other and put their clothes away to be dealt with later, yet another bundle shoved out of sight by Kung Lao's careless foot, when the sun is back in the sky.
Liu Kang is quick to climb under the blankets. The coolness waiting there makes him shiver, which he makes a show of, turning imploring, round eyes to Kung Lao. “Shi xiong, hurry,” he whines, “I will freeze to death if you take any longer.”
Kung Lao laughs. He sets his hat on its ceremonial stand, lays Liu Kang's mala beads beside it, and quickly slides into the bed, pressing into Liu Kang’s space. The heat of his body is instant and makes Liu Kang shiver again, this time pleasantly as he soaks in the warmth. “So dramatic,” Kung Lao teases. He pulls the blankets up over their shoulders. “It’s alright, shi di, I am here now, your personal bed warmer is here.”
Grinning, Liu Kang allows himself to relax into the bed. He reaches up, combs his fingers through Kung Lao’s still damp hair and watches as his eyes begin to flutter shut. Still, Kung Lao leans in closer. Slow, sleepy kisses are exchanged between them until Liu Kang also feels himself beginning to drift.
They fall asleep in each other’s arms, content and secure. Tomorrow, they will begin their efforts again, determination to train their fellow champions renewed, knowing that, no matter what comes, they will be shoulder to shoulder to face it together.
----
In the end, it does not matter. Their efforts are in vain.
Shang Tsung invades the Temple yet again, and this time, he is successful. He takes Kung Lao’s soul, unaware that with it, he is taking Liu Kang’s as well.
Everything that happens after that is a blur of rage and grief, a war in the hollow of Liu Kang’s chest where his heart once was. They manage to defeat the sorcerer and his minions, and it is an important victory for the new champions, Liu Kang knows, but he can’t find it in him to want to celebrate.
Sonya and Jax still have each other. Cole still has his family. Liu Kang has no one now, alone for the first time in years because of one man’s violent greed. If they were to die, it was supposed to be together, and now here he is, stuck in the Temple with strangers, left only with Kung Lao’s hat and the ghost of his love to surround him.
Without Kung Lao, Earthrealm stands no chance against Outworld. Without Kung Lao, there is nothing to hold Liu Kang together anymore.